I spent my car rides this day listening to Ted Talks. They all seemed to swirl around the theme of identity and storytelling, which is what I try to focus on in my 101 classes. It felt like kismet. It put me in a mind to better consider what those classes may look like in the coming semester. I’ve long wanted to build these classes as a way for students to explore their own voices and gain a better understanding of what they are trying to say as individuals. This has not always worked out. The class feels like it starts with a strong theme but flounders after a bit and is oft reduced to students mimicking what they think I want to hear. What I want to hear is them tell their story and do so in a self aware fashion.
I’m looking into the possibility of having them open with a great deal more of reflective writing and working towards argument slower. It is more of a find your center approach to writing than I’ve done in the past.
The end goal is to help them to be able to really listen to the world around them–to tune in vs. tune out and see how that world is impacting or even creating their own story.
Some Thoughts:
- Lots of heat treatments on the back these past seven days. I’ve been doing HIIT training and I think the steps and the back muscle exercises really pushed my back too far. I need to strengthen, but I cannot do it too fast.
- My new schedule has yet to account for daily physical activity. It needs to be a part of my life. A big part.
- Meanwhile I’m taking the meds to get right and I do not know if they are working.